Automatic stop drain valve



Aug. 24, 1937. J. A. CRIS 2,090 931.11? f AUTOMATIC STOP DRAIN VALVE I Filed March 11, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Patented Aug. 24, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OF'Fl-CE 2,090,931 AUTOMATIC STOP DRAIN VALVE Joe Arthur Crista, Carlsbad, N. Mex. Application March 11, 1935, Serial No. 10,367

Claims.

This invention relates to a drain valve and has relation more particularly to a valve for use in connection with a. railway tank car.

It is an object of the invention to provide a 5 valve of this kind which automatically closes struction and in the combination and ar-ange-' ment of the several parts of my improved drain valve whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

25 In order that my invention may be the better understood,. I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereim- Figure 1 is an enlarged fragmentary view part- 30 ly in section and partly in elevation and also of a diagrammatic character illustrating a valve and its associated parts constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position;

5 Figure 2 is a fragmentary-view partly in sec tion and partly in elevation illustrating ameans whereby manual operation of the valve may be accomplished;

Figure, 3 is a view also partly in section and 40 partly in elevation and of a diagrammatic character illustrating a valve and its associated parts constructed in accordance with an,.embodiment (if my invention and in applied position.

In the embodiment of my invention as illus- 45 trated in Figures 1 and 2, T denotes a tank such as comprised in a tank carand which includes a conventional dome D. The lower or bottom wall of the tank'T is provided with a drain openmg I which discharges into a drain pipe 2 of 50 desired length and depending from the, tank T. At a predetermined point intermediate its ends this pipe 2 has disposed circumferentially therearound a groove 3 whereby the pipe 2 is materially weakened at such point so that the pipe 2 or 55 housing as it may be called may readily break.

-3 of the pipe or housing 2.

Readily insertible within the outer end of the pipe or housing 2 is an end portion of a carryofi line 4 which may be of any length desired and of any preferred type. The outer end portion of the pipe or housing 2 is provided with 5 the peripheral threads 5 to permit the application of a cap thereto after the line 4 has been removed and which is particularly desirable when the car is in transit. The upper portion of the, pipe or housing 2 is formed to provide an in- 1 ternally directed flange 6 to provide a support for a valve seat 1.-

Coacting with this seat I is a valve member 8, which in its openingmovement travels towardthe tank T. This valve member 8 is fixed to an end portion of a rod .9 which extends inwardly of the tank and, as illustrated in Figure 1, extends up into the dome D. The upper portion of the rod 9 has threaded thereon a nut or head M with which engages an end portion of a coil spring ll encircling the rod 9 above said nut and also having contact with a guide bracket l2for the upper portion of the rod 9 and which bracket, as herein disclosed, is carried by and extends inwardly from the side wall of the dome D.

The valve member 8 has a part depending there from which constitutes a plunger l4 snugly fitting and working within the cylinder l5. This cylinder I5 is carried by a spider l6 'at a point between the flange 6 and the weakened portion The cylinder l5 in advance at all times of the plunger It has in communication therewith a line or conduit I I which extends out through the side wall of the pipe or housing 2 and leads to a suitable source of air under pressure, such source being herein disclosed as a tank l8 which is to be permanently attached toa car at any convenient place.

Leading from the tank i8 is a flexible pipe line l9 which is provided at itsouter extremity with a valve structure 20 which is normally closed. This line I9 is of a length to be readily thrown across a rail of a trackway fore and aft of a wheel of the car duringan unloading operation so that if, during such unloading operation, the 5 car should start to travel in either direction the wheel W of the car will sever the line l9 thus immediately relieving the pressure within the tank l8. This relea'sepi' pressure will permit the immediate closing of. the valve member 8 under the action of the spring II. V

The valve structure 20 is of a type to permit the same to be readily employed with a prime source of air pressure when it is desired to move the valve member 8 into open position to deliver whereby is released the pressure within the cylinder l5.

To assure the discharge of the content of the tank T said tank has in communication therewith through the top wall of the dome D a vent 2| which is under control of a conventional valve 22.

When it is desired to manually move the valve member 8 into open position, the top 23 of the dome D will be removed and a nut 24 threaded upon the upper portion of the rod 9 down into contact, with the bracket I2. .This nut 24 is intendedto be applied at the point. of unloading but not to bevcarried during :transit.

25 be what is termed a permanent structure. In

Figure 3'is illustrated the embodiment of my invention which may be designated as a temporary structure wherein the tank T has depending therefrom a conventional drain housing or pipe 25 flow through which being normally closed by a valve 28. The outer portion of the housing or pipe 25 is adapted to have threaded therein an end portion of a tubular member 21 of'desired length. This tubular member 21, as

5 herein disclosed, is sectional and has its adjacent ends suitably coupled, as at 28, such coupling including a member having a spider 29 intersecting the tubular member and which provides a guide for an elongated sleeve 30. The outer end of thissleeve 30, as herein disclosed, is closed by a cap 3| which is placed into direct contact from below with the valve member 26.

The opposite end portion of this sleeve 30 has threaded therein an end portion of a plunger 32 whereby the desired contact of the sleeve 30 with the valve 26 may be assured. The outer end portion of the tubular member 21 threads into an end portion of a casing 33, the opposite end portion of which having a threaded opening 34 to permit the connection with said casing of a delivery or carry-01f line. This casing 33 is intersected by a spider 35 which provides a mounting for a cylinder 36 in which snugly engages the end portion of the plunger 32 remote from the sleeve 30. This cylinder 36 in advance of'the plunger 32 has in communication therewith a line 31 leading to a tank 38 and which tank 38 has in communication therewith a flexible line 39 to provide means for connection with a prime source of air under pressure. The operation of this embodiment of my invention is in accordance with that of the first embodiment hereinbefore set forth and, therefore, it is not believed necessary that a detailed explanation of the operation of this temporary type be given.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a drain-valve constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:-

1. A valve structure for use within a discharge housing in communication with a tank, said structure including a valve to normally close the -flow out through the housing, a cylinder within the housing, a piston working within the cylinder and coacting with the valve to move', the valve into open position upon movement of the piston munication with the cylinder so that the pressure within the tank will efiect such movement of the and a spring interposed between the bracket and enlargement of the rod and placed under tension when. the valve is moved into open position to return the valve to closed position upon reduction of pressure in the air pressure tank. The structure as hereinbefore described has to tion with the cylinder so that the pressure within the tank will effect such movement of the piston to open the valve, a rod carried by the valve to extend inwardly of the tank, a guide bracket for said rod for position within the first tank, an enlargement carried by the rod, a spring interposed between the bracket and enlargement of the rod and placed under tension when the valve is moved intd open position to return the valve to closed position upon reduction of pressure in the air pressure tank, and means carried by the rod for coaction with the bracket to move the rod independently of the piston to open the valve.

3. A valve structure for use in connection with a discharge housing including a valve member for normally closing the flow out through the housing, a cylinder within the housing, a piston working within the cylinder, a member operating upon movement of the piston in one direction to adjust the valvemember into open position, said member comprising a plunger and a sleeve, the plunger engaging within the sleeve, said plunger and sleeve having coacting means to permit relative adjustment thereof one lengthwise of the other, and means for admitting fluid under pressure within the cylinder to impose movement on the piston for moving the valve member into open position.

4. A valve structure for use in connection with a discharge housing including a valve member for normally closing the flow out through the housing, a cylinder within the housing, a piston working within the cylinder, a member operating upon movement of the piston in one direction to adjust the valve member into open position, said member comprising a plunger and a sleeve, the plunger threading into the sleeve, and means for admitting fiuid under pressure within the cylinder to impose movement on the piston for moving the valve member into open position. 4

5. A valve structure adapted to be secured about the drain opening on tanks mounted on wheeled vehicles, said structure comprising a casing having a passage therethrough, a valve seat in one direction, an air pressure tank in com- .in the casing, a valve normally resting on said pressure for unseating said valve, said. pipe or hose being of such length that when unsupported it'will normally fall in the path of the wheels of the vehicle so that in case the vehicle should be moved inadvertently the hose or pipe will become mutilated and thus release the fluid pressure and permit the valve in the casing to close.

JOE ARTHUR CRISTA. 

